Today’s Readings – Monday of Week 1 of Advent - First Reading

Commentary on Isaiah 2:1-5 and Isaiah 4:2-6 in Year A

We are now entering the season of Advent and making our preparations to welcome the coming of the Son of God among us as one of us. The Child, born in such obscure surroundings, will become the Light of the Nations.

Our First Reading is taken from the early part of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, as will be the case for much of the Advent season. Depending the Church Year (A,B or C), the verses will come from one of two sections in Isaiah. This commentary reflects on the verses starting with Isa 2:1. It begins with the lovely prophecy:

The mountain of the Temple of the Lord shall tower above the mountains and be lifted higher than the hills. All the nations will stream to it, peoples without number will come to it; and they w … Continue

Yesterday’s Readings – Sunday of Week 1 of Advent (A)

Commentary on Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:37-44

A new year in the Church’s calendar begins today. Happy new year to all!

This period is appropriately called “Advent”.  It comes from the Latin word adventus which simply means ‘coming’.  But w … Continue